Tag: Dhaka Gladiators Team Logo

Mohammad Ashraful, captain of Dhaka Gladiators in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), poses with franchise officials during the logo unveiling ceremony today, January 17, 2012.

Bangladesh Premier League Franchise – Dhaka Gladiators unveiled their team logo and introduced the team management with an announcement that their team has one aim and that is to win the title, reports BSS.

Europa Group unveiled their team logo at a ceremony held at a city hotel Tuesday and provided details regarding Dhaka Gladiators.

Owner of BPL Franchise – Dhaka Gladiators Shihab Chowdhury said, “I am honoured to avail the opportunity to promote Bangladesh cricket and represent Dhaka team. Our journey has just started and we hope we will be able live to the expectations and come out as one of the top performers in the tournament.”

“Besides participating in the tournament we will also make sure to promote Dhaka and its heritage. We have also set a strong plan of social activities which will roll on the field soon and will be informed accordingly,” Shihab added.

Dhaka Gladiators Official Logo Unveiling Ceremony for BPL T20

The logo was unveiled by team ambassador – renowned actress Afsan Ara Bindu and team icon Mohammad Ashraful with the team song ‘Feel like Gladiator’ (Composed by DJ AKS from Dubai featuring Parvez).

Later a press conference was held where the team management along with the owners answered the questions asked by the media personnel.

Former national start spinner Mohammed Rafique said, “I am really excited to be back on the field. I guess the work will be easy for me as I have been working for long now with the young cricketers. And how will the team perform, can only comment once we know the team.”

Dhaka Gladiators Yet to Name the Captain

Though former skipper Mohammad Ashraful is the icon player of Dhaka, the Gladiators which have already named total team and coaching staffs, adopted wait and see policy to name the captain.

Ashraful’s continuous erratic batting form might have been the prime cause of not announcing him captain earlier. Ashraful, considered one of the finest batsman ever Bangladesh produced could never translate his sheer talent into the international cricket at regular basis like Shakib Al Hasan. Still his eye-catching match winning knock against some big guns of the world made him unparallel to name him icon as Dhaka Division.
But his career hit low over the last two years as he was not considered as the first choice player always. As an icon player he got the responsibility to inspire his team and made example which would be a tougher job for him considering his batting form.

Team Ambassador Bindu with Dhaka Gladiators Logo

Ashraful, who also played for Mumbai Indians in IPL, however was not worried with his upcoming challenge as he kept belief on his capability.

“I’ve been playing international cricket for last 10 or 11 years. So it’s not a pressurised job for me specially in this sort of cricket. Moreover it would be held in our country. I’m aiming to enjoy my game,” Ashraful told The Independent.

Dhaka Gladiators owner Shihab Chowdhury though thought as an icon and local player Ashraful should be the captain of the team, said team management would decide on this issue.
“Team management will decide whether he will be captain. Perhaps they will take the decision once they will form the team.
“Personally I think Ash should be the captain as he is our icon and local player.”

Team consultant Habibul Bashar Sumon said they would take the decision about captaincy after forming the team.
“We still don’t know which players we will get in the players’ auction. We are not thinking about captaincy issue at the moment rather we are focused on to form a balanced team.”

Sumon said they would try to purchase national team vice-captain Mahmudullah Ryad, also a player of Dhaka Division.
“As he is the player of Dhaka Division, we’ve the soft corner for him. We’ll try our best to purchase him.”

Meanwhile, the logo was unveiled by Team Ambassador and actress Afsan Ara Bindu and team Icon Ashraful with the team song ‘Feel like Gladiator’.

Dhaka appointed former Bangladesh bowling coach Ian Pont as the head coach of the team while former Bangladesh left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique as the bowling coach. Incumbent Bangladesh physio Vivhab Singh and fitness trainer Grant Luden will be with Gladiators as the same rule. Shafiqul Haque Heera was appointed as team manager.

Head coach Ian Pont however said it would be a challenging job for him since the Dhaka Gladiators want the trophy.
“I’m prepared to take challenge of the BPL and the biggest thing for me is to come back in the country. This time I have come here for the special assignment. We all try to give our best endeavors and experiences behind it,” Pont said.

“Actually Twenty20 is a game where is a lot of thrills and excitement. We want to enthrall our spectators by presenting our best game. I don’t know the result of the game but our target in the game to win each and every match,” the former bowling coach of Bangladesh added.

Pont, Rafique team up for Gladiators

Former national cricketer Moha-mmad Rafique will be among a strong six-member coaching staff of the Dhaka Gladiators for the first season of the Bangladesh Premier League.

Rafique will be the bowling coach and is set to work under Ian Pont, who was the Bangladesh bowling coach till the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The other members are Shafiqul Haque (former Tigers’ team operations manager), physio Vibabh Singh and trainer Grant Luden. Habibul Bashar, one of the three national selectors, will act as the team’s consultant.

All this was revealed during a ceremony held at a local hotel yesterday, where the Gladiators’ logo was also unveiled.

The team’s icon cricketer Mohammad Ashraful, the former national captain, was present at the occasion alongside Europa Group managing director Salim Chowdhury and team owners Shihab Chowdhury and Tisham Chowdhury.

To add a bit of glamour to the team, actress Afsan Ara Bindu was also introduced as the team ambassador.